Estate Planning for Rensselaer County, New York Property Owners

For most Rensselaer County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.

Record a TOD deedWhere to recordLocal attorneys

For a Rensselaer County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the Surrogate's Court. The two tools that keep a Rensselaer County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the County Clerk, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.

Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, Rensselaer County property passes through the Surrogate's Court — even simple New York probates run 7+ months and start with $45 in filing fees.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Rensselaer County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Rensselaer County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the County Clerk during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.

Before recording, a New York transfer on death deed is signed with 2N.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Aug 24, 2026View source witnesses and notary acknowledgmentN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.

Create a New YorkTOD deed →Rensselaer Countysigning requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Rensselaer County are recorded with the County Clerk, led by County Clerk Frank Merola, at 105 3rd Street, Troy, NY 12180. Phone: (518) 270-4080. Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM.

The County Clerk charges $45 per document plus $5 for every page. Recording a 2-page transfer on death deed in Rensselaer County comes to $55. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Recording Office Record

County Clerk

Rensselaer County · County Clerk · Frank Merola

Address

105 3rd StreetTroy, NY 12180

Fax

(518) 271-7998

Hours

Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Visit recorder website →

Recording fees

Document fee (per document)$45
Each page$5
TP-584 Combined Real Estate Transfer Tax Return$5
RP-5217 Real Property Transfer Report (Residential/Agricultural)$125
RP-5217 Real Property Transfer Report (Commercial/Other)$250
Transfer tax on a TOD deedExempt

CPLR § 8021(a)(4) (county-adjustable); RPL § 333(3)(ii) (RP-5217 filing fee); county-published fee schedules

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Verified September 8, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Rensselaer County

FirmAlbany, NY

Bailey, Johnson & Peck, P.C.

Serves 3 counties

Albany firm whose estate group guides executors and trustees through Surrogate's Court, obtaining Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, filing accountings, and distributing estate proceeds. Also handles trust administration and represents beneficiaries in will contests and trust challenges. Serves Albany, Schenectady and Troy.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 2 more

Office
5 Pine West Plaza, Suite 507Albany, NY 12205

FirmTroy, NY

Fowler Doyle Spiess PLLC

Serves 2 counties

Troy (Rensselaer County) firm serving the Capital District, with more than 30 years of probate and estate administration work in the Troy and Albany areas. Handles an estate start to finish — probating the will, estate and income tax, liquidating assets, accountings and distribution to beneficiaries — plus wills, trusts, Medicaid planning and asset protection.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 2 more

Office
317 Brick Church RoadTroy, NY 12180

Solo PracticeHoosick Falls, NY

Law Offices of Edward J. Gorman

Serves 3 counties

Hoosick Falls and Troy practice guiding Rensselaer County executors and administrators through the Surrogate's Court, from the petition and citations to the final accounting and release of the fiduciary. Ed Gorman is the attorney retained by the Rensselaer County Public Administrator, handling estates where no executor or family member is available to step in.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateMedicaid Planning

Office
5 Main StreetHoosick Falls, NY 12090

FirmTroy, NY

Pattison, Sampson, Ginsberg & Griffin, PLLC

Since 1813 · Serves 4 counties

Troy firm at 22 First Street serving Albany, Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga in the Capital District, tracing its roots to 1813. Handles estate and trust administration: probating wills, intestate administration, beneficiary and fiduciary representation, contested accountings, will contests and right-of-election claims, plus Medicaid planning and guardianship petitions.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbate Litigationand 4 more

Office
22 First StreetTroy, NY 12180
Free consultation

FirmLatham, NY

Pierro, Connor & Strauss, LLC

Serves 13 counties

Capital Region trusts and estates practice in Latham, with offices in New York City, Garden City, Hudson and Lake Placid and more than 280 years of combined attorney experience. Handles estate and trust administration, probate, estate and trust litigation, guardianship under Article 81 and 17-A, Medicaid and special needs planning, and tax planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationTrust Litigationand 5 more

Office
43 British American BoulevardLatham, NY 12110
Free consultationVirtual consultations

FirmLake Success, NY

Abrams Fensterman, LLP

Since 2000 · Serves 9 counties

Lake Success (Nassau County) firm guiding executors, administrators, trustees and beneficiaries through New York Surrogate's Court — probate, estate and trust administration, and contested estates and objections to a will or to fiduciary conduct. Also handles estate planning, retirement-distribution planning, Medicaid and elder law. Absorbed the Berwitz & DiTata estate practice.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 6 more

Office
3 Dakota Drive, Suite 300Lake Success, NY 11042
See all 9 firms serving Rensselaer County→

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.

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